Why I'm starting to like Donte' Stallworth

Donte' is/was a receiver currently with the Cleveland Browns after a number of years with the Saints and one with the Eagles and then with the Patriots. He shows glimpses of greatness. A handful of very good games and many where he is average or even seems to disappear. Some of the numbers are low because of the other receivers that he was over shadowed by (Moss/Welker, Braylon Edwards), but he has been an underachiever. He has speed and athletic ability, but doesn't run routes as well as he should because he is not a hard worker. His natural skills have taken him a long way, but to become great he needs to really work on the holes in his game. Sounds unfortunately typical.

Then, he really screws up his life and ends someone else's. Donte' killed Mario Reyes while driving drunk. In his defense Mario was not in a crosswalk. Donte' flashed his lights at him a few times and he didn't move. Donte' was going 50 in a 40 which is pretty average, but he was drunk driving. I have not read anywhere some stating that had Donte' been sober he could have easily avoided hitting Reyes.

This is where the story becomes something that I didn't expect. Donte' doesn't run, doesn't try to avoid the situation, if fact he calls 911 knowing the trouble that he could be in. In multiple statements he takes full responsibility. No excuses. He has been up front with the NFL and the Browns.

He came to an agreement with the judge and the Reyes family for a financial compensation and then was sentenced to 30 days jail, 2 years house arrest, 8 years probation, 1,000 hours community service, drug/alcohol testing, and loss his license for life. He also was suspended by the NFL for the year.

This Donte's statement regarding meeting with Goodell before the suspension:

I wanted to meet with Commissioner Goodell before making any public comment about the impact of my actions on the National Football League. I want to thank the Commissioner for giving me the opportunity to be heard yesterday.

I recognize that there is a difference between the legal standard in my criminal case and the standard to which NFL players are held. It is clear that I exercised poor judgment and caused irreparable harm to Mario Reyes, his family, the NFL, its owners, coaches, employees and to my fellow players. Going forward, I am committed to conducting myself in a manner that more accurately reflects who I am and meets the high standard expected of all NFL players. I tried to convey this commitment to Commissioner Goodell yesterday. I respect the Commissioner's authority and I trust his judgment. Whatever he ultimately decides is the appropriate discipline, I will accept knowing that I have profoundly affected the NFL and its relationship with the fans of our game.

I apologize for my poor judgment. I jeopardized the honor and privilege that I have been given to be an NFL player and to play for our fans.

I am truly sorry.

Donte Stallworth

Now, I see this: Peter King's MONDAY MORNING QB

"I'm donating $1 to the Red Cross for each follower I have by midnight. PLS RT & let's help the ppl of Haiti 2gether 2day.''
-- @D_Stallworth18, Donte' Stallworth, the former NFL receiver now under league suspension for the involuntary manslaughter conviction in the death of a pedestrian on a Miami causeway last March, writing Sunday afternoon on Twitter.

By the end of the day, Stallworth had increased his Twitter followers from about 18,000 to 33,000, and he got former teammate Wes Welker to match his donation to Project Medishare, a medical group dedicated to providing care to the affected masses in Haiti. Just through this simple act, Stallworth raised at least $68,000 to treat the sick and injured. Moreover, Joshua Cribbs has promised to donate his Pro Bowl check, win or lose.

What he did was horrible, but unlike almost every other incident with a high profile athlete, I have never hear an excuse from him. I don't know the kind of man Donte' was before the accident, but the kind of character that he has shone from the instant it happened has been great. I hope that he gets back into the NFL, works his butt off to become an excellent receiver, and works to mentor younger players to help them to live lives that are worthy of the amazing natural ability that God gave them.